Feather Release by Scalding and Other Factors

A REPORT (Klose, Mecchi and Pool, 1961) on variations in feather-pulling force as related to time after slaughter, combinations of scalding and anesthetic, and feeding or injection of a tranquilizing drug included a literature review and discussed methodology. The present report adds information on the effects on feather release of scalding medium and temperature, radiant heat, brain sticking, and ante-mortem administration of pentobarbital. EXPERIMENTAL Feather-pulling forces for chickens were measured as described in our previous report. All measurements were on mature feathers selected from a region along the midline of the back and extending from just below the junction of wings with body to about half way back to the tail. This area contains cape and back (contour) feathers. Effect of Heat on Feather Release . Preliminary experiments in which birds were scalded in 10-gallon and 50-gallon tanks, with and without circulation of the scalding medium, indicated that agitation of liquid …